Page 109 of Happy Harbor
“Yes. I’m not dealing with this again, and I’m not selling the restaurant. You can’t ruin our family legacy. It’s much more workable for you to go somewhere else.”
“Okay, I need to explain something?—”
“I don’t want to hear any explanations. Just say you’ll leave!”
“I will not leave.”
“Why don’t you just call Dan, and he can pick you up from here.”
“Dan? Why on earth would I want to call Dan?”
“I know you were looking for him on my computer.”
Diane put her hand over her forehead. “Josie, that was a moment of weakness where I was looking for him because I wanted to go after him legally to get that money back. I was afraid Walker wouldn’t be able to raise it.”
Josie stood there silently for a moment. “Are you trying to tell me you didn’t contact him? You didn’t speak to him at all?”
“Of course not! Why would I want to bring him back into our lives?”
“If you didn’t hook back up with Dan, then why did you get drunk?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you! I didn’t drink any alcohol. It was a drug.”
Josie’s face turned beet red. She could feel her blood boiling in all of her veins. “You took drugs?”
“It was one drug. What happened was?—”
Josie marched toward the door. “No. I don’t want to hear any more. I can’t believe you’re doing drugs!”
At that moment, a tall doctor with a white coat and brown hair opened the door and almost knocked Josie to the ground. “Wait, who’s doing drugs?”
“My mother, apparently! That’s what you’re treating her for, right?”
He looked over at Diane and chuckled. “Not unless she has some drugs smuggled in her hospital gown. She’s been tested for everything, all clear.”
Josie was completely confused. She looked at her mother. “What is he talking about?”
“When I said I took a drug, I meant a prescribed one. I had an upper respiratory infection. That’s why I kept coughing. My doctor gave me some brand-new medication that just hit the market. For some reason, it gave me slurred speech and disequilibrium. I was bumping into walls and trying to get help downtown.”
“Is this true?” Josie asked, looking up at the doctor.
“Yes, it is true. Your mother was very lucky that somebody helped her get to the hospital when they did. Those were some very disturbing side effects. We are reporting them to the national database.”
“Oh. I see.”
“Diane, I just came in to let you know we are working on the paperwork to get you released. The nurse should be back shortly.”
Diane smiled. “Thank you, Dr. Benson. You’ve been immensely helpful.”
He turned and walked out of the room. Josie moved over to the window and stared out.
“I don’t suppose we can totally forget what a jerk I just was?” she asked, not looking at her mother.
“Listen, I was a jerk most of your life. You had every right to think what you did. But in the future, I hope you will give me enough benefit of the doubt to at least have a conversation before you almost leave town and cut me off forever.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I really am,” she said, walking closer. “It’s hard for me to learn to trust you, or anyone, really.”
Diane patted next to her on the bed, and Josie sat down. “I know it’s hard. I want the very best for you, but you can’t have that if you push everyone away.”
